The university says it is offering staff and students advice and support

Deakin U staff should “keep calm and carry on,” Karen Hapgood (dean of science, engineering and built environment) says.

“We need to avoid creating additional unnecessary disruptions to our teaching and research.”

In a faculty message Professor Hapgood adds the university will follow government-medical expert advice and “will not be making our own rules about health risks.

“If we as a university do not follow the advice of the best experts in the country, then why should the general public have any faith in our expert advice on other topics like climate change and cyber safety?” she asks.

This means, “we all need to continue to come to work and support our students and colleagues and maintain as much business as usual as possible.”

DU observers say this has not gone down especially-well on the university’s Melbourne campus, where O-week was a vibrant and crowded with local and international students. However, there seems less concern on the broader Geelong campuses.

A Deakin U told CMM last night, “Deakin remains aligned and responsive to the advice of state and federal health authorities. We are in regular contact with our staff and students to provide advice and support as this matter evolves, and we continue to publish daily updates to our extensive online information resources.”